PITCH n DRINK
Categories: Food Channel

Tips To Get More Out Of Your Wine

There have probably been numerous occasions in your life that asked for a bottle of the best wine. However, do you know all the important factors that determine how you should serve, taste or store wine? The following article is equipped with some of the best tips on the net to help you learn more about this wonderful drink.

Do not buy large quantities of a wine you like. Your preferences will change quickly as you discover new wines and you might regret spending your money on a wine you will eventually come to consider as average. Purchase small quantities and keep trying new wines to expand your horizons.

There are wines from all over the world, so try them all out. You can drink a Canadian wine from Niagara, one from California or one from France. Test all the different regions until you find those you like the best. Whether it is Italy or South Africa, you’ll find the perfect selection.

You should write down a few notes after trying a new wine. Make sure you write down the name of the wine, its origin and the year as well as your impressions. It will be hard to remember what a wine tasted like, especially if you attend wine tastings and try many different wines in the same day.

Keep in mind that the color of the wine is not always the same as color of the grapes that are used to make it. The color results from the process of wine making and it is the skin of the grape used in the process that gives an individual wine its final color.

If you want to keep wine for long periods of time, you should consider investing in a wine refrigerator. Even if you have a dry and cool basement you can use, temperature will still vary slightly from one season to the next. The wine you store will keep its flavors if it remains at the exact same temperature.

Look at the entire wine store. Do not just stay in one aisle. Some stores are better organized than others, and you may even find some great deals in a section that you may not normally look in. Take some time to explore it. Surveying the store can help you avoid missing anything.

Find someone else who enjoys wine. It could be an employee at a store you go to often or an online blogger or critic whose opinion you respect. This individual can help you figure out what to try next, particularly if you are stuck in the rut of simply drinking the same thing over and over again.

Get to as many wine tastings as you possibly can. Taste as many different kinds of wine as you can, and you learn a lot in the process. Not only will you learn about the various kinds of wine, you also learn about wine in general and how to learn good wines from bad very quickly. Just remember that you need to spit!

This article has helped you get started in discovering the wonderful world of wine. There are many things you need to watch out for to ensure your next bottle of wine is served and stored right. Use what you’ve just learned and apply it to your next gathering for optimal success!…

Categories: General Article

7 Things About Corporate Catering Your Boss Wants to Know

Many businesses host various events throughout the year that require the use of a catering company to provide meals both to employees and guests of the company. Providing an excellent meal can really set the tone for the event overall. Management, of course, wants to be well represented by the events that they host. Here are seven different things to keep in mind for anyone working on planning a corporate event, complete with meals for those in attendance.

  1. It is important to find a caterer that can accommodate a wide variety of dietary restrictions. Consider meal options for guests that are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, or otherwise. Many caterers can work with a variety of different menu options.
  2. A reputable client will be able to provide references and reviews. It’s important to look for caterers who have experience specifically in doing corporate catering, as opposed to restaurants and companies who may have dealt with other types of events. Hearing from past satisfied customers is important to making the right selection of caterer.
  3. Remember that the event is more than just food. Some companies may be able to provide things like linens, tables, chairs, and other basic necessities for any sort of corporate hosted events. However, it is important to know exactly what the catering company will be providing. For more formal events, find out if they can provide servers and wait staff. Certain meals may require special equipment to keep everything hot. It’s important to not only confirm what type of food is provided, but also the types of other services.
  4. The overall schedule of the day is also important to a smooth corporate event. The catering company should be able to provide a general timeline of what their service involves. Depending on the location, menu, and number of guests, the company will need a designated amount of time to both setup and tear down the food. Employees of the company will also need to know whether they will have an location to stay on site during the meal portion, or if they’ll be expected to leave and come back. The expected dress code of any staff, whether they’re merely setting up and tearing down equipment, or they’re providing table service at the event, is also important to discuss with the catering company.
  5. In addition to experience doing catering at corporate events, it is also key to find a catering company that has experience catering certain types of environments at different types of locations. Catering a small breakfast in a hotel conference room is very different than catering a holiday party at a more upscale event venue. Finding a catering company that has dealt specifically with the type of event that is being planned is key.
  6. Naturally, the overall budget is one of the first things to review with the catering company. It is important to ask about any additional fees, such as costs for things like napkins and condiments. In addition, sometimes there are set up fees, delivery fees, and gratuity.
  7. Consider how versatile the corporate catering company is. Finding a quality company can be time consuming, and it is helpful to have one company that a business is comfortable working with on a longer term basis. Consider a company that is able to accommodate a wide variety of different types of events and different types of menu options. This way, once a business forms a relationship with a catering company, they can rely on that company for many events in the future.

Categories: Food App

More Coffee Tips To Make You Say MMMMM

Making the perfect cup of coffee is about more than buying a jar of instant and adding a bit of water. It is all about selecting the right quality of coffee, buying the right coffee maker and a list of other things. The following article will give you tips on how to make a decent cup of coffee.

You can re-use your coffee grounds for many items. Coffee grounds are great for getting rid of smells like garlic and onion on your hands. You can also use them on dishes that refuse to get clean with regular washing. Coffee grounds can even be used in the garden to take care of pests that threaten your plants.

There are many health benefits that have been discovered from drinking coffee. Feel free to indulge in your morning cup without fear. You may want to switch to decaf if the caffeine in the coffee effects other medications you are taking. Reduce or eliminate creamer and sugar to maximize these benefits.

Do not keep your coffee in the refrigerator unless it is in a container that is absolutely airtight. This is important because moisture can cause coffee to become moldy. It is best to keep your coffee in the cabinet where it will stay warm, dry and at its best quality.

Use your used coffee grounds in your compost pile! Coffee grounds offer many beneficial ingredients to a compost pile including pest control. Coffee grounds contain caffeine which helps prohibit the growth of fungus that can quickly destroy your vegetable garden. The next time you brew a fresh pot of joe don’t throw away those grounds; add them to your compost pile!

If you have a hard time finding fresh, roasted beans in your area, then consider roasting fresh beans yourself. The easiest and most fool-proof method is to place green coffee beans on a baking tray and roast them in the oven. Preheat the oven at the highest temperature and roast the beans until you hear them start to crack.

A great tip when brewing coffee is to always use the right water. You can’t just use any water when brewing coffee. If you’re using dirty tap water, you can probably expect an unpleasant tasting cup of coffee. Good water to use should have some minerals in it that will help to extract the best flavor.

You should never reheat coffee, as it will just burn the beverage and taste far worse than being cold. Instead, know when you will have your coffee for more than 20 minutes. Have an insulated mug or a thermal carafe handy for these occasions to retain the original heat and warmth.

Never keep coffee stored in a container that sits near a stove. Heat is one of the things that can kill the quality of coffee quite easily. Thus, you should not store your coffee in cupboards or on countertops that are within close proximity to the stove.

Now that you know the best way to make coffee, it is time to take things on a test run. there is no reason to spend a fortune on coffee drinks when you can make them right at home. After reading the article above, you should feel up to the challenge.…

Categories: Food Ideas

Wine 101: Top Tips For A Better Palette

You’re in for a treat, wine lovers! You will find tips and secrets here that will give you extensive wine knowledge. By increasing your knowledge, you will find that your enjoyment of wine increases as well. Continue reading to further your knowledge!

Attend as many wine tastings that you can during the course of the year. This can be very beneficial for you as it allows you to get an idea of some of the newer wines that are on the market. This will help you to gain a better appreciation for all wine has to offer.

Particularly if you are just discovering wine, don’t buy too much of any one thing. You may want to grab several bottles of whatever you enjoy, but as you continue learning more, you are going to start to like different things. You probably won’t be interested in the wine that you enjoyed several months ago.

Simply because a bottle of wine is more expensive than another does not mean that it is necessarily better. You don’t have to buy the most expensive bottles of wine that you find. Try wine at all different price levels. You may like something better that is less expensive than what you usually buy.

When you drink a bottle of wine, make sure that you do not throw it out, even if you have a small amount left. Wine can stay good for a long period of time and you never know when you may have a craving for that type of wine in the future.

Find someone else who enjoys wine. It could be an employee at a store you go to often or an online blogger or critic whose opinion you respect. This individual can help you figure out what to try next, particularly if you are stuck in the rut of simply drinking the same thing over and over again.

If you are a wine newbie and you are looking for a wine to try, why not go to a wine tasting? At these events, you can taste many different wines until you find one the best suits your taste. Also, if you find one you like, you can usually purchase a bottle at the same time.

Stock your wine cellar with a variety of labels and types of wine. This is imperative, as it is not efficient if you just have red wine in your rack. From sparkling to dessert, have a bunch of wine on hand for when guests drop by.

Join a wine of the month club with your friends. This can be a great way of learning about the developments in the wine industry and some of the new wines that are on the market. Also, you can get samples of different wines, which can be purchased by the bottle if you enjoy it.

Wine lovers are located all around the world. The tips you have read here will help you join the hobby of wine. Enjoy your glass of wine – cheers!…

Categories: Europe Restaurant

What Are The Benefits Of Drinking Coffee?

For decades, people have been reaching for coffee in the morning. The sumptuous aroma and robust flavors keep people wanting more. Making that perfect cup of joe takes some know how. This article will teach you how to make the best cup of coffee.

Buy whole coffee beans and grind the coffee yourself. Coffee that is freshly ground is much more flavorful and aromatic than pre-ground coffee. Each day, only grind the amount of coffee that you need for that day. If you have any extra, place the leftover grinds in an airtight container in the fridge.

Keep your automatic coffee maker clean with white vinegar. Run a brewing cycle with one part water to one part white vinegar. After allowing the carafe to soak in the vinegar for a while, run a cycle with plain water to rinse the machine. Clean your coffee maker once every week or two to remove rancid coffee oils, mold and other contaminants.

Be careful about the type of water you utilize when preparing your coffee. If your water tastes bad, the coffee isn’t going to be good. You should also try and use water that contains minerals. Otherwise, your brew has the chance of becoming bitter or overly acidic.

It is very important to properly clean your coffee making equipment. If you do not clean the equipment frequently, the taste of your coffee may suffer. You do not have to clean the equipment fully after ever use, but if you start to notice a slight odor or buildup of any kind, it should be fully cleaned.

If you want the best iced coffee that you have ever had, you need to brew the coffee cold. If you do try to make hot coffee cold, you can end up with a pretty awful brew. If you start your brewing right before bedtime, you will have delicious iced coffee for your morning commute.

If you want to help the Earth out a little in your coffee habit, then buy filters that are reusable. These will spare you from wasting a lot of paper filters in the future. This is green for the planet, and saves the green in your wallet. Many reusable filter enthusiasts also think their coffee tastes better this way.

The best coffee makers actually extract the essence of the bean. Drip coffee makers do not do this. Find an inexpensive French press and taste the difference. A French press will extract the oils from the bean and put them in your cup as opposed to a drip coffee maker which will leave them in the filter.

To get the strongest cup of coffee, only grind your beans immediately before you brew them. While grinding is fun and fills your kitchen with the enticing aroma of fresh coffee, it also immediately releases the flavor of your beans, limiting their shelf life. To get the freshest brew every time, invest in a coffee machine that both grinds and brews.

As mentioned, people all over the world drink coffee every day. This exotic beverage has an enticing aroma and taste. Once you are armed with the proper information, it’s easy to make a great cup of java. Get a head start by testing out a few of the great tips you’ve just read.…

Categories: USA Restaurant

Wine Tips To Help You BHetter Enjoy It!

Wine is a worthy beverage to serve on special occasions, parties or business gatherings. However, there are many choices that you have to make in order to find, serve and store your favorite bottle properly. With some acquired knowledge and research on your part, you can become the next wine tasting connoisseur. Read on below to gather some great tips and enhance your knowledge about wine.

To choose the best wine to compliment any meal you must know what type of wine goes with the different types of meat. One of the easiest ways to remember which wine to choose is to match the color wine with the color of meat. For example, most red wines pair beautifully with red meat such as beef; while white wines work well with white meats like fish or chicken.

When buying wine, do not make the mistake of believing a wine has to be expensive to be tasty. There are many wines out there that taste great and are reasonably priced. If you are not sure you like a particular variety of wine, it is a good idea to try an inexpensive bottle.

Bring along your wine resources with you to the store. There is so much information on wine out there, and bringing along different source materials can help you make better choices. Items like brochures, magazines, books, and websites have great information to pick the best wine for your plans.

A great tip if you’re interested in buying wine is not to get too carried away with buying a lot of wine that you currently like. Tastes change all the time, and you might regret packing your wine cellar with a bunch of wine that you happen to like right now.

Leftover wine should not be saved for any more than four days. When wine comes in contact with oxygen, it starts to break down. This greatly effects the taste and balance. It is best to use any wine you have leftover for cooking instead of drinking it as it is.

Do not let others influence your taste in wines. It is important you try different wines and decide what you love. Everyone has different taste buds and might not be looking for the same thing in a wine. Do not assume that drinking a wine recommended by an expert will make you more sophisticated.

Don’t worry about trying to identify all the flavors in a wine that you are tasting. Some people have a natural affinity for this while others do not. Try to focus instead on how much alcohol is in the product, as well as what type of fruit may be included. Over time, you will probably be able to get a good feel for these elements.

There are so many things you need to consider when it comes to the world of wine. Anything done wrong can hinder the taste of this great alcohol. Ensure your serving success by applying all of the informative things that you’ve just read from this article. By choosing to play it smart, you can ensure your next gathering’s success.…

Categories: Cooking Sites

This Article Will Help You To Brew The Perfect Cup Of Coffee

There is nothing quite like a good cup of coffee when you are feeling sluggish and depressed. Just the smell of coffee can perk you up. By learning more about coffee, you can really enjoy your next cup. This article will share a few interesting pieces of information about this drink.

If you tend to drink a lot of coffee, you should invest in a quality coffee machine and make your own coffee at home. Go to a coffee shop only occasionally, for instance on weekends or when you go out with some friends. This should help you save a lot.

You should make sure to clean your coffee pot every time you use it so that any residual flavors do not tarnish the taste of it. There are oils that will stick to the coffee pot over time. Many people do not notice the difference, but true coffee lovers will be able to tell right away.

If you are feeling down, try changing to a new flavor of coffee. Simple changes like this can help stimulate your mind and pull you out of your rut. Be sure to take time to enjoy this special cup and try to identify the new flavors. Keep a few sample packs in your cupboard to pull out for these special occasions.

The best way to get iced coffee in a hurry is to make it ahead of time via cold brewing. This involves brewing with just grounds, water, a fine filter, and if you like, some milk. You can easily do this before bed. By the next morning, you’ll have refreshing iced coffee that is ready to drink.

The variety of coffee types and flavors is endless. Some people prefer the full flavor of dark roast, and others prefer a flavor that is mild and smooth. Some people like flavored coffee, which comes in a variety of flavors from cinnamon to hazelnut. You can even buy creamer that is flavored so you can have many different choices.

Always use the correct amount of water when brewing coffee in a coffee maker. Without enough water, the flavor will be overpowering. Conversely, too much water and you’ll have weak tasting coffee. Thus, a handy tip is to simply allot two cups of liquid for a single cup of coffee.

If you are planning to store coffee beans, keep them in a place that is close to room temperature. This will help to extend the longevity of the beans, so that no flavor is lost providing great-tasting coffee for a very long time. Storing coffee beans in temperatures too hot or cold can cause them to go stale faster.

If regular coffee no longer provides you enough caffeine, consider brewing espresso. This does mean you will need a different piece of equipment, as your regular coffee maker likely cannot do it. Espresso machines are typically expensive though, and the intensity of the caffeine levels is too much for some. Try espresso a few times somewhere else before making this commitment for your home.

Coffee has been enjoyed by people all around the world for thousands of years, so your interest in it is nothing new. The more you learn about coffee, the more pleasure you will get from drinking it. Armed with the tips in this article, you can make your next cup of coffee one to remember.…